Friday, October 19, 2012

FILM FRAME FRIDAY: The Horse Soldiers (1959)

An unsatisfying movie. John Wayne vs. William Holden... no contest, really, tho' the script gives a healthy heaping of the self-righteousness to ol' Bill.

There's meat to the conflicting sensibilities of the two characters--in eleven years it will blossom into a movie like M*A*S*H--but having raised the big issues, director Ford and co. never really seem up for a resolution. And besides--Bill Holden just comes across as such an a--hole.

I've tried to watch this film three times, and never make it to the end.

They had that rickety old actor who looks like a Quaker Col. Sanders in there as a Confederate constable about to be hung by no account deserter Strother Martin.

Not only does the Duke rescue him, he restores his dignity. And knocks out Martin with one calf-skin sock. More of that!